LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management will host free guided hikes to look for wintering bald eagles in the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in Lake County on Saturdays, beginning Jan. 21 and continuing through Feb. 18.

Those interested in participating should reserve space for a specific date by calling the BLM Ukiah Field Office at 707-468-4000.

Early reservations are requested for the popular hikes, which are limited to 25 participants each and fill quickly.

Participants will meet at the Redbud Trailhead parking area, eight miles east of Clearlake Oaks on Highway 20 at 10 am. The trailhead is just west of the North Fork Cache Creek Bridge (38° 59' 13.20" N, 122° 32' 22.50" W).   

Hikers are advised that the Redbud trail is in an area which was burned during the 2015 Rocky fire.

The five-mile hikes last about four hours. The trail includes a steep 600-foot climb in the first mile, so hikers should be in good physical condition and sure-footed.

Hikers should wear sturdy hiking boots suitable for wet conditions and dress for cold weather. They should carry water, a lunch and binoculars, as most eagle sightings are from a distance.

Additional information is available from the Ukiah Field Office.